Photographic tank filling apparatus



March 16, 1965 D. H. ROBBINS ETAL 3,173,577

PHOTOGRAPHIC TANK FILLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

FIGJ

INVENTORS 8 TE FC BAR WE Y E R A N .H K R H 0 L ET A wlwm DME March 16, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

March 16, 1965 D. H. ROBBINS ETAL 3,173,577

PHOTOGRAPHIC TANK FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United State Q This invention-relates to a storage and supply system for liquid chemicals. More-particularly, the invention relates to a reservoir and supply system for photographic proc- .essing liquids.

The processing of sensitized photographic material is commonly performed by immersing the material in a bath of processing liquid for a period of time. Since photographic processing baths change in activity and characteristics as they become exhausted, it is customary to re- ,plenish these baths, and some automatic, continuous replenishment systems have been suggested in the past.

Continuous replenishment of photographic processing baths is difficult, because consumption, and therefore the rate at whichreplenishment is needed, depends upon the amount of material that is processed in a given time period, the overall enposure that the material has received, the size and type of the processing unit, and the type of solution that is being replenished. The replenishment rate is also affected by the tank life of the particular solution. Other factors may also be important. For example,

characteristically, many photographic processin liquids are corrosive in nature, and deteriorate during storage, particularly when in contact with the atmosphere.

All of these factors make more difficult the task of designing satisfactory reservoir or supply systems for the continuous replenishment of these processing liquids. Although. many attempts have been made in the past to design practical systems of this type, none of these has been completely satisfactory.

One object of the present invention is to provide a practical reservoir and supply system that will automatically and continuously replenish photographic processing solutions in a photographic processing unit.

A related object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described that is convenient to use, simple yet safe in operation, and that is designed so as to make improper operation difficult so that the system is made safe by an inherent foolproof design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described in which the liquid processing solutions are automatically maintained at a predetermined level in the processing baths, without requiring manual Still another object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described in which the operator of a photographic processing unit need never have any direct physical contact with the processing solutions, even when replacing a spent solution with a fresh supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described in which the processing solutions can conveniently be stored in reservoirs, with mini mum contact with the atmosphere, when not being used for processing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described that is self-cleaning, and in which sediment is automatically removed from the system.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system of the character described in which the danger of corrosion and possible dangerous contact with photographic processing solutions are avoided, by substantially completely eliminating the possibility of spillage and splashing.

,essing solution in an upper, operating P sition.

Patented Mar. 16, 1965 Other objects of the invention will be apparent herein after from the specification and from the recital of the graphic processing unit. The reservoir system includes a bin that is mounted on the unit to hold a bottle of proc In this operating position, the bottle is connected to the tank through a special fitting through which the liquid from the bottle must how, and through a piece of flexible tubing that interconnects the fitting and the tank. The special fitting is mounted on the bottle bin and is formed so that in the operating position, the tank is automatically filled to a predetermined level, and is continuously replenished with liquid from the bottle to maintain this level.

The bottle bin is mounted for pivotal movement on the processing unit, so that it can be moved from the upp r, operating position to a lower, non-operating position. When the bottle bin is in this lower position, liquid automatically drains from the tank back into the bottle. The bin is also formed so that in this lower position, the bottle can easily be removed and replaced if desired.

The details of the invention can best be understood by reference to the drawings that accompany this application and that illustrate one particular embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic view, partly in elevation, but primarily in section in a vertical plane, of a photographic processing unit that is provided with a processing solution reservoir and supply system that is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, showing the bottle bin in its upper, operating position, with processing liquid filling the processing tank, and also showing in dotted lines the lower position of the bottle bin;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section of the processing unit taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the bottle bin in its lower position, but with the bin cover in its closed position, and showing in dotted lines the bin cover raised to its open position as it is in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the processor unit, on an enlarged scale, taken in the same vertical plane as FIG. 2, and showing the bottle bin in its upper, operative position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the bottle bin, on an enlarged scale, with the bin cover raised .to its open position, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and on an enlarged scale.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by numerals ,of reference, the numeral 10 denotes an upright portion of the frame of a photographic processing unit. A pair of trays or tanks 11, only one of which is shown in the drawing, are mounted side by side in the unit, for sequential treatment of photographic material, first with the processing liquid in one tank, then with the processing liquid in the second tank. Each of the tanks 11 is formed with a dished bottom, and at the lowermost point of the bottom, each tank is formed with an opening to permit drainage into an elbow 12.

The processing unit is also formed with a generally upright member, 13, that is formed at its upper end with a horizontally-extending portion 15, on which a larger sheet member 16 is secured to provide a shelf surface or the like. The other extremity of the shelf member 16 is supported on a pieceof angle iron 17 (FIG. 2) or similar 3 structural member that is a part of the frame of the processor unit. A generally C-shaped bracket 18 (FIG. 2) is secured to the inner surface of the angle iron 17,

and the lower arm 20 of this bracket (FIGS. 2 and 3) projects freely in a generally inward direction, inclined slightly downward relative to the horizontal.

A pin 21 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the arm 20 and projects downwardly therefrom. The pin 21 is enlarged at its ends to provide rims 22.

The bottle bin is denoted generally by the numeral 24.'

and that is secured to the upper end of the step 27 (relative to FIG. 3). An apron or outer wall 30 is inclined upwardly from the outer end of the back 28 of the bin,

and the apron 30 is formed at its upper end with a lip 31 i that is inclined'so as to be in parallelism with the arm 20 of the bracket 18. The lip 31 is formed with'an aperture through which the pin 21 can pass.

A generally L-shaped member 32 is secured at one of its ends 34 to the inner surface of the'apron 30, and at its other end 35 it is secured to the lip 31. The member 32 is formed with one long portion 36 that is disposed to extend substantially at right angles to theback 28 of the bin, to provide a shelf surface for supporting the bottom of a bottle. The member 32 is also formed with another. arm 37, that is formed with a centrally-disposed threaded aperture 38 (FIG. 3). The arm 37 is also formed with an aperture 40, that is in registry with the aperture in the lip 31, to receive the pin 21.

A pair of allochiral, generally L-shaped members 41, 42 respectively, (FIG. 4) are secured along opposite sides of the bin to provide sidewalls.

A generally L-shaped member 44 is mounted to extend longitudinally of the bottle bin 24, as best shown in FIG.

4. The member 44'is formed with a foot 45 that is en- (FIG. 4) that in turn is formed with a' right-angled ex- V tension or web portion 48 that is generally disposed in parallelism with the other web portion 46. The member 44 is secured at its lower end to the shelf 32. The web 48 is formed with' an elongate slot 50 that has an offset por- 4 28 of the bin, in the assembled position of the bin and cover shown in FIG. 3. The bracket 67 is rigidly secured to the back panel 61 of the bin cover 60, at its upper end 70, by spot welding or the like, and is formed at the lower end of the panel portion 68 with a right angular leg 71, that in turn'is formedwith an extension 72 that is disposed in face-to-face engagement with a' portion of the back panel, 61 of the cover and that is secured thereto.

The p-anelportion 68 of the bracket 67. is formed with a pair of apertures 74,75, respectively (FIG. 4), that are disposed for registry respectively with the apertures 66 in the top panel 62 of the cover. A pair of plastic .blocks 76 (FIG. 1) and 77 (FIG. 3), respectively, aresecured to the panel 68 by screws or other fastening means (not shown).

As is best shown in FIG. 1, the plastic block 76 is formed with a large diameter bore 78 that extends from one face of the block, as shown in FIG. 1, lengthwise into the block. At its lower end, the bore 78 communicates withfa second bore 80, that extendsfrom another face of the ,block into the block substantiallyat right angles to the first bore 78. The, block 76 and its bore 80 are so disposed that the bore 80 is in registry with the aperture 74 in the front panel68 of the bracket 67.

The plastic block 76 is formed with a recess about the mouth of the'bore 80, and a compressible gasket 81 is seated in this recess. .A nipple 82 is mounted to project through another bore in-the plastic block 76, from the pivot pin. that is supported from a bracket 91 that is secured to the frame member 13 of the processing unit. The rod 88 and bracket 91 are mounted to project through the aperture 66 in the toppanel 62 of the bincover. At

its other end, the rod 88 is mounted 'for pivotal movement about a pin 92 that is formed at its ,endswith rims 94.

One of these rims 94 is engaged for sliding movement in the slot 50.

A second rod 95 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 96 that is supported from a bracket97 that issecured to the inner surface of theback panel61 of the bin cover. At its other end, the rod 95 is connected for pivotal movement to a pin 98 that-is formed at its ends with rims 100, one of whichis engaged for sliding movement in the slot 57.

A generally S-shaped strap 101 (FIG. 3) is secured at one of its ends to the inner surface of the top panel 62 of the bin cover, and projects downwardly and outwardly.

.A threaded fastener 102, that has a knurled knob, is

mounted on the outwardly projecting extension of the strap 101,'to permit the strap' 101 :to besecured to the arm 37 in the bin, by engagement inthethreaded aper- The cover of the bottle bin is generally denoted by the I numeral 60. It is formed from sheetmetalor equivalent material, and has a back panel 61, a top panel 62, and a pair of side panels 64, 65, respectively, that depend downwardly from the top panel 62. The back panel 61 is connected at its lower end to the piano hinge 25, and is formed with a pair of symmetrically disposed apertures 66 (FIG.

7 3), only one of which can beseen in the section shown vin FIG. 3.

of the bin cover 60,1and that is disposed tolie in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the back panel 68 that is inclined relative to the back panel 61 ture 38.

Referringnow particularly to FIG. 4, the bottle bin 24 is formed to receive two separate containers 104, 105, respectively, for photographic processing liquids. Each of these containers is substantially square in transverse crosssection and preferably is formed from a synthetic plastic material that is inertto theprocessingliquids. The necks 106, 107, of the two containers 104 and 105 respectively, are positioned to engage against and form a liquid-tight seal with the resilient gaskets ,81, 85," respectively, when ,the bin cover 60 is fastened in its closed position, i.e., in

the. position shown in both of FIGS. 2 and 3.

In use. of the device that has been described, in order to place the processing unit in operation, bottles of the needed processing liquids are loaded into the openbin, as shown in FIG. 4. For example, for processing silver halide photographic paper or film that includes an alkaliactivatable developer in the silver halide emulsion, activator and stabilizer solutions are needed, and one bottle of each is loaded into the bin, in position to furnish these liquids to the proper respective tanks for proper processing of this material.

After the full bottles have been placed in the bin, the bin cover 60 is dropped down from its raised position, in which it is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIG. 4, to its closed position. To do this, the rod 95 is adjusted to release the pivot pin 98 from the offset portion of the slot 57, in which it is engaged, to permit the pin 98 to slide downwardly in the slot 57 as the cover 60 is lowered. The cover is then secured in its closed position by adjusting the fastener 102 to engage it in the threaded aperture 38.

When the bin cover 60 is moved into its closed position, the gaskets 81, 85, in the plastic blocks 76, 77 respectively, engage against the necks of the two bottles 1%, 197, to form liquid-tight seals so that liquid from the bottles can enter the bores in the plastic blocks, but will not leak out around the necks of the bottles.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, the liquid from the container 1% flows into the bore 30 of the plastic block 76, into the nipple 82, through the tubing 84, and into the tray 11, until the liquid level L in the tray 11 is at the height indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1, at which height the level of liquid in the plastic block 76 entirely closes off the bore 78, so that there is no route by which air can enter the container. Even though the level of liquid in the container 194 may be substantially higher than the liquid level L in the tray, fiow of liquid out of the container 104 stops.

As the liquid in the tray is used up or evaporates, and the liquid level L drops, the level of liquid in the plastic block also drops until air can again pass through the bore 78, through the bore 86, and through the neck 1% of the container into the container, to permit liquid to flow out of the container and into the tray. This flow con tinues until the liquid level L again becomes sufliciently high to cut off the passage of air into the container 104, again to stop the liquid flow.

After a period of use of the processing liquid, the liquid may become contaminated with sediment, that ordinarily collects at the bottom of the tank. At the end of a day or week, to avoid permitting the processing liquid to stand unused for a prolonged period of time in cont-act with the atmosphere, and to remove some of the sediment from the tray 11, the liquid is returned from the tray 11 to the container 194. This is accomplished in the following way.

First, the slide latch 33, that is mounted for lateral sliding movement on the lower surface of the lip 31, is operated to release the bottle bin from the pin 22, and the bottle bin is lowered. The liquid then drains from the tray 11, through the fitting 12, the tubing 84, the nipple 82, and the bore 80, into the container. As the liquid drains from the tray 11, it sweeps sediment with it along the bottom of the tray, into the fitting 12, and carries it down into the container, where it settles. Once the sediment is carried into the container, it is trapped there and remains in the container, because of the ele vation of the neck of the container above its side, as best-shown in FIG. 1.

To substitute a bottle of fresh liquid for a bottle in the bin, when the bin is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 102 is rotated to release the cover 60, and the cover is then raised to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. When the cover is moved to its raised position, the pin 98 engages in the offset portion of the slot 57, so that rod 95 holds the cover up.

In order to raise the closed bin from the position shown in FIG. 2, the rod 88 is adjusted to remove the pin 92 from the offset portion 51 of the slot 50, so that it can. slide in the slot 50. This operation is most convenientlyaccomplished by grasping the rod 88 in one hand, and grasping the bin 24 by its lip 31 and raising it. As the bin is raised, the pin 92 slides in the slot 50.

In the processing liquid handling system that has been described, the liquid level in a processing tray is automatically replenished to compensate for evaporation and use losses. Moreover, since the liquid can be drained from the trays into the containers when the liquid is not in use, contact between the liquids and the atmosphere is minimized and the stability of the liquids is thereby improved. This system is extremely convenient to use and simplifies the insertion .or replacement of liquid containers. There need be no direct contact between the operator and the liquids, and there is the least possible danger of splashing.

Another important advantage of the invention is that the arrangement and mounting of the rods 88, 95 is such that it is very difiicult to use the bottle bin improperly and spill liquid. When the bin is in its open position, with the cover raised, as shown in FIG. 4, the proper, step, to place the device in condition for operation, is to maneuver the rod 95 so as to ease the pin 98 out of the offset portion of the slot 57, and into the slot itself, to permit the cover 6% to be lowered. This is the proper step because it will engage the sealing gaskets 81, against the necks of the containers while the containers are in the substantially upright position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and thus will avoid the danger of spillage. However, should the machine operator for some reason try to leave the cover 64 raised, and raise the open bin, the rod 88 would resist upward movement of the bin. Since the pin @2 is engaged in the offset 51 of the slot 50, pressure that is exerted on the lip 31, in an attempt to raise the bin, merely serves to jam the pin 92 against the wall of the offset slot portion 51. Should the operator maneuver the rod 38 to depress the pin 92 out of theotfset 51 and into the slot 5%, it would still be impossible to raise the bin, because the rod 95 would now be found to interfere. Should the operator then deliberately maneuver both rods 88 and 95 to permit relative movement between the bin 24 and its cover 6%, the operator would usually find that the cover so would drop down rapidly and strike his fingers or arms, thus warning him of improper operation and also bringing the cover 69 down to close the bin, for

proper operation of the unit.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understoodthat it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of theinvention following, in general, the principlesof the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid storage and supply system comprising a frame, a tank for holdingliquid and that is mounted in said frame, a bin that is mounted for movement relative to said frame between an upper position and a lower position, said bin being formedfor receiving a liquid container, and conduit means providing communication for liquid flow between said container and said tank including valve means to control the flow of liquidin said conduit and that is formed automatically to stop the flow of liquid from the container to the tank when the liquid in the tank attains a predetermined level, said tank, conduit means, container and bin being disposed to permit liquid flow from thecontainer to the tank in the upper position of .the bin, and from the tank to the container in the lower position of the bin.

2. A liquid storage and supply system comprising a frame, a tank for holding liquid and that is mounted in said frame, a bin that is mounted for movement relative 7 v to said frame between an upper position and a lower position, said bin being formed with a base and with a cover, said base and said cover being formed for receiving a liquid container therebetween, valve means 'mounted on one of said cover and said base, conduit means providing communication for liquid flow between said valve means and said tank, and means for providing liquid-tight communication between said valve means and a container in said bin, said. tank, conduit means, container and bin being arranged to permit'liquid flow from the container to the tank in the upper position of the bin, and from the tank into thecontainer in the lower position of the bin, said that has a passage therethrough and that is mounted on said cover with said passage in registry with said aperture, means operative when said base and said cover are assembled about a container to engage against the container mouth to place the passage in said valve member in communication with said container, said bin being formed to receive the container therein in position to dispense liquid from the container in said'upper bin position, and to retain liquid in the container in saidlower bin position.

4. A liquid storage and supply system comprising a frame, a tank for holding liquid'and that is mounted in said frame, a bin that is mounted on said frame and for movement relative to said frame between a lower position and an upper position, said bin being formed with a base and a cover, said base and said cover being formed for receiving therebetween an open-mouthed liquid container, means including a conduit that is mounted on one of said cover and said base to engage against the container mouth to place said conduit in communication with said container, means providing communication for liquid flow' between said conduit and said tank, said bin being formed to receive the container therein in position to dispense liquid from the contaiuer in said upper bin position to flow into the tank, and to retain liquid in the container in said lower bin position.

5. A liquidstorage and supply system comprising a frame, a tank for holding liquid and that is mounted in said frame, a bin that is mounted on said frame and for movement relative to said frame between a lower position and an upper position, said bin being formed with a base and a cover, said base and said cover being formed for receiving therebetween an open-mouthed liquid container, and meansfor interconnecting said container and said tank and including valve means comprising a body that is mounted on one of said cover and said base and that is formed with a first bore that is disposed to be placed in registry with the container mouth-upon assembly of said cover and said base,'and that is also formed with a .second bore that is disposedto provide communication between said first bore and the atmosphere, means for providing a liquid-tight seal about the mouth of said container upon engagement of said body against said container mouth, and a conduit providing communication for liquid flow between said first bore in said body and said tank, said binrbeing formed to receive the container therein in position, to dispense liquid from the container in said upper bin position to flow into the tank, and to retain liquid in the container in said lower, bin position,

said upper bin position, and said body and said bores being disposed to cut off liquid flow to said tank when the liquid in the tank attains a level that is sufliciently '70 said second bore of said body being disposed to-permit entry of air'into the container as the liquid leaves it in high to raise the level ofliquid in the second bore to prevent the flow of air into said container.

6. A processing liquid replenishment system for a photographic processor, comprising:

a tank for holding processing liquid;

a container mounted for movement relative to said tank between an'upper position and a lower position for storing the processing liquid and for supplying it to saidtank; V I

means interconnecting said container and said tank including a conduit permitting liquid flow'therebetween, y

said tank,'container and conduit being disposed to permit liquid flow from the container to said tank in the upper position of said container, and from said tank to said container in the lower position of said container; and

valve means coupled to said conduit and mounted intermediate said container and said tank to control the flow of liquid in said conduit,

said valve means being formed automatically to stop the flow of liquidtfrom said container to said tank when the liquid in said tank attains a predetermined level.

7. A processing liquid replenishment system for a photographic processor, comprising: i

a tank for holding processing liquid; 7

means to hold an open-mouthed container for storing the processing liquid, said means adapted for moving said container relative to said tank'between a first position and a second position;

means for interconnecting said container and said tank including a conduit permitting liquid; flow therebetween, v 7

said tank, conduit, and container being disposed to permit liquid flow from the container to said tank when the container is in the first position and from said tank to the containerv when the container is in the second position;

means for interconnecting said conduit, and the open mouth of said'container in a liquid-tight seal; and

valve means coupled tosaid conduit and mounted intermediate said, container and said tank, adjacent the containerv mouth to control the flow of liquid in said conduit,

said valvemeans being formed automatically to stop the flow ofliquidfrom said container to said tank when the liquid in said tank attains a predetermined level. 8.A processing liquid replenishment system for a photographic processor, comprising:

a tank for holding processing liquid; mean-s to hold an open-mouthedvcontainer for storing the processing liquid and for supplying it to said tank, said means adapted for moving said container relative to said tank between an upper liquid dispensing position and a lower liquid receiving position, means forinterconnecting said container and said tank including a conduit permitting liquid flow therebetween, I said tank, conduit and container being disposed to permit liquid flow from said container to said tank in the upper position of said container, and from said .tank to said container in. the lower position of said container; and valve means coupled to said conduit and mounted intermediate said container'and saidtank to control the flow of liquid in said conduit, said valve means comprising a body that is formed with a first bore that is disposed to receive liquid from said container mouthfor passing into said tank, and that is also formed with a second bore. that is disposed toprovide communication between said first bore and the atmosphere, said second bore being disposed to permit the entry of air into the container as the liquid leaves it, said body and said bores being disposed to cut off liquid flow to said tank when the liquid in the tank attains a level that is sufiicie-ntly high to raise the level of liquid in the second bore to prevent 1% position, in which said container is in a position to permit liquid flow from said tank into said container, said body and said bores being disposed, in said first position, to out of? liquid flow to said tank when the the flow of air into said container. 5 liquid in said tank attains a level that is sufiiciently 9. A processing liquid replenishment system for a high to raise the level of the liquid in said second photographic processor, comprising: bore to prevent the How of air into said container. a tank for holding processing liquid; 11. A liquid storage and supply system, comprising: means to hold an open-mouthed container for storing a frame;

the processing liquid and for supplying it to said a tank mounted on said frame for holding liquid; tank, and adapted for moving said container relative a bin comprising a base and a cover that are secured to said tank between an upper liquid dispensing positogether and to said frame for pivotal movement relation and a lower liquid receiving position; tive to each other and to said frame to permit said means for interconnecting said container and said tank bin to be moved between a lower position and an including a conduit permitting liquid how thereupper position, said base and said cover being formed between, for receiving therebetween an open-mouthed liquid said tank, conduit and container being disposed to percontainer bin being formed to receive the container mit liquid flow from said container to said tank in therein in position to dispense liquid from the conthe upper position of said container and from said tainer in said upper bin position to flow into the tank, tank to said container in the lower position of said and to retain liquid in the container in said lower container; and bin position; valve means coupled to said conduit and mounted intermeans for interconnecting said container and said tank mediate said container and said tank to control the and including valve means comprising a body that flow of liquid in said conduit, said valve means comis mounted on said bin and that is formed with a first prising a body that is mounted to be adjacent the bore that is disposed to be placed in registry with mouth of said container and that is formed with a the container mouth upon assembly of said cover first with a first bore that is disposed to receive liquid and said base, and that is also formed with a second from said container mouth for passage into said bore that is disposed to provide communication betank, means providing liquid-tight communication tween said first bore and the atmosphere; between the mouth of said container and said first means for providing a liquid-tight seal about the mouth bore, said body also being formed with a second bore of the container upon engagement of said body that is disposed to provide communication between against the container mouth, and a conduit providing said first bore and the atmosphere to permit the entry communication for liquid flow between said first of air into said container as the liquid leaves it, said bore in said body and said tank, said second bore of body and said bores being disposed to cut of)? the said body being disposed to permit entry of air into liquid flow to said tank when the liquid in the tank the container as the liquid leaves it in said upper bin attains a level that is sufiiciently high to raise the position, and said body and said bores being disposed level of liquid in the second bore to prevent the flow to cut oil liquid how to said tank when the liquid in of air into said container. the tank attains a level that is sufiiciently high to 10. A processing liquid replenishment system for a raise the level of liquid in the second bore to prevent photographic processor, comprising: the dew of air into the container; and

atank for holding processing liquid; mechanical means interposed between said base and an open-mouthed container for storing the processing said cover for releasably locking said base in said liquid and for supplying it to said tank; lower position. means for interconnecting said container and said tank 12. A device in accordance with claim 11 including including a conduit to permit liquid flow theremechanical means interposed between said cover and said between; base for releasably locking said cover in said upper posivalve means coupled to conduit and mounted interli n wh n S id ase is in Said lower position.

mediate said container and said tank to control the flow of liquid in said conduit, said valve means com- References Cited in the file of this Patent prising a body that is formed with a first bore that UNIT D STA PATENTS is disposed to receive liquid from said container mouth for passage therethrough and through the igggig gf July 1880 remainder of said conduit into said tank aid body sant May 1924 K 1,922,383 Madden Au 15 1933 also being rormed with a second bore that is disposed g 1,960,733 Ea leson Ma 29 1934 to provide communication between sa1d first bore 1986 811 g y and the atmosphere to permit the entry of air into Hanna 1935 S'Iid Container as li 2,017,990 y Oct- 22, 1935 taves 2 524125 Haid 0 t 3 1 means prov-idrn a liquid-tight seal between said body c a 2,623,538 Schulze Dec. 30 1952 and the open mouth of said container, and 2 699 886 James 1 J 1955 means for mounting said container and said body to 27O2649 Ngilson ig 1955 move together, as a unit, from a first position, in 28O8173 Patnode 1957 which said container is in a position to permit liquid 2:949:212 Watson 1960 to flow from said container to said tank, to a second 

1. A LIQUID STORAGE AND SUPPLY SYSTEM COMPRISING A FRAME, A TANK FOR HOLDING LIQUID AND THAT IS MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME, A BIN THAT IS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME BETWEEN AN UPPER POSITION AND A LOWER POSITION, SAID BIN BEING FORMED FOR RECEIVING A LIQUID CONTAINER, AND CONDUIT MEANS PROVIDING COMMUNICATION FOR LIQUID FLOW BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID TANK INCLUDING VALVE MEANS TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF LIQUID IN SAID CONDUIT AND THAT IS FORMED AUTOMATICALLY A STOP THE FLOW OF LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER TO THE TANK WHEN THE LIQUID IN THE TANK ATTAINS A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, SAID TANK, CONDUIT MEANS, CONTAINER AND BIN BEING DISPOSED TO PERMIT LIQUID FLOW FROM THE CONTAINER TO THE TANK IN THE UPPER POSITION OF THE BIN, AND FROM THE TANK TO THE CONTAINER IN THE LOWER POSITION OF THE BIN. 